Recessed anchor structure



July 9, 1968 H. A. CLAY RECESSED ANCHOR STRUCTURE Filed June 9. 1966 v G1 a 1 1 u a .I

INVENTOR. HORACE A. CLAY 3,391,515 RECESSED ANCHOR STRUCTURE Horace A.Clay, 2908 W. Montebello, Phoenix, Ariz. 85017 Filed June 9, 1966, Ser.No. 556,511 3 Claims. (Cl. 52-709) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A recessedanchor structure having a cylindrical housing adapted to be recessedinto concrete, or the like, and having a vertically reciprocally mountedplunger adapted to be locked into flush position with the upper end ofthe cylindrical structure or to be locked into upward projectingposition or which may be vertically removed, and wherein the plunger isspring loaded in the cylindrical member tending to move the cylindricalmember upwardly.

This invention relates to a recessed anchor structure, and moreparticularly, to a recessed anchor structure for use in holding pOOlcovers or other objects, such as items which may be tied down to aconcrete deck, or the like.

Prior art recessed anchor structures have been utilized in connectionwith concrete decking around swimming pools and for other purposes,however, a common fault with many of these structures is that when thefeatures of the structure become corroded, the parts may not readily beserviced or cleaned and this is particularly true of recessed anchorstructures whch may be used around a swimming pool where chemicals,galvanic action and time silt may be present in the area of theretractable structure of such anchors.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide arecessed anchor structure, wherein a hollow cylindrical casing isrecessed in a concrete deck, or the like, and wherein an anchor plungeris vertically extendable and retractable into the casing and may belocked in flush position with the surface of the deck or in an extendedposition permitting pool covers or other items to be tied thereto andalso the plunger is provided with retainer means which, when rotated atgiven amount, permits the plunger to be vertically removed from thecasing so that the casing may be cleaned and so that a plunger extendingspring in the casing may be replaced, if desired.

Another object of the invention is to provide a recessed anchorstructure which employs a recessed casing with a plunger disposedtherein, said plunger being rotatably and reciprocally mounted in thecasing and engaged by a spring tending to force the plunger axiallyupward; the peripheral portion of said plunger being provided with notchportions extending axially and circumferentially in stepped position andengaged by an inwardly extending projection in the housing, such thatrotation of the plunger a given number of degrees permits the verticallystepped slotted portion to pass said projection and permit the plungerto move upwardly to a stepped notch in the periphery of the plunger andwhereupon further rotation relative to said projection, permits theslotted portion to reach an axially disposed slot extending to the endof the plunger and to thereby permit axial removal of the plunger fromthe housing for cleaning the housing or replacing the plunger and/ orthe spring between the bottom of the housing and the plunger.

Further objects and advantages of the invention may be apparent from thefollowing specification, appended claims and accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a recessed anchor structure inaccordance with the invention and showing 33%,515 Patented July 9, 1968ice portions of the housing thereof broken away and in section toamplify the illustration;

FIG. 2 is a reduced vertical sectional view of the recessed anchorstructure of the invention, shown recessed in concrete decking andshowing the plunger of the structure in extended position for engagementby a rope or grommet of a pool cover, or the like, for holding such ropeor pool cover in anchored position; and

FIG. 3 is a developed view taken from the line 33 of FIG. 1, showing theperiphery of the plunger of the anchor structure of the invention laidout in fiat position in order to illustrate the peripheral and axiallydisposed relation of the slot in the plunger which is engaged by aninward projection of the housing of the invention.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the recessed anchor structureof the invention is provided with a hollow cylindrical housing 10 havingan enclosed bottom 12 provided by a pressed in plate 14. Supported bythe plate 14 is a coil spring 16 which coil spring is a compressionspring compressively engaging a lower end 18 of a plunger 20 tending toforce the plunger 20 upward with respect to an upper open end 22 of thehousing 10. The housing 10 is provided with a projection 24 whichprojects into the hollow circular in cross-section bore 26 thereof. Tothis projection 24 extends into a slotted portion 28 recessed in theperiphery of the circular in cross-section plunger 20.

The slotted portion 28, as shown in the developed view in FIG. 3,comprises a portion 30 which is disposed horizontally in the peripheryof the plunger 20. This slotted portion 30 is provided with an end 32,and when the slotted portion 30 is engaged on the projection 24, anormally upper end 34 of the plunger 20 is flush with the upper open endof the housing 10.

Communicating with the slotted portion 30 at an end 36 thereof, oppositethe end 32, is an angularly directed slotted portion 38 which extendsaxially relative to the axis of the plunger 20 and this slotted portion38 at its lower end, terminates in an axial recess 40 which is disposedto receive the projection 24 and when compression of the spring 16 actsupward on the plunger 20, tends to lock the plunger 20 againstrotationin the housing 10. When the slotted portion 40 engages the projection24, the plunger 20 is forced upward by the spring into the extendedposition, as shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings, wherein a peripheralgroove 42 of the plunger is adapted to receive a rope, grommet or otherfitting to be anchored thereon.

Communicating with the slotted portion 38 is a horizontally disposedgroove portion 44. This groove portion 44 is provided with a normallylower side 46 disposed above the arcuate lower end of the groove portion40 and this groove portion 44 extends laterally of the axis of theplunger 29 to an axially disposed groove portion 46 having an open end48 communicating with the lower end 18 of the plunger 20 so that whenthe plunger 20 is depressed, the slotted portion 44 may be lined up withthe projection 24, whereupon rotation of the plunger 20 in a directionof an arrow A, may permit the slotted portion 44 to traverse around theprojection 24 until the slotted portion 46 reaches the projection 24,whereupon the spring 16 may then force the plunger 20 upwardly out ofthe housing and permit the slot 46 to pass over the projection 24 and,thus, the plunger 20 may be removed from the housing 16).

Replacement of the plunger may be accomplished in the reverse manner.

When it is desired to lock the plunger downwardly so that its upper end34 is flush with the upper open end 22 of the housing 10 and with anupper surface of the decking B, the plunger may be rotated in aclockwise direction after being pressed down into flush position untilthe slotted portion 30 traverses the projection 24 and, thus, theplunger 20 is held downward against compression of the spring 16 in thehousing so that the upper end 34 of the plunger is flush with the upperopen end 22 of the housing and with the upper surface of the decking B.

When it is desired to extend the plunger so that its annular groove 42is exposed above the level of the decking B, the plunger is rotatedcounterclockwise until the slot 32 has traversed past the projection 24and so that the spring 16 may force the plunger 20 unwardly with theslotted portion 36 traversing the projection 24 until the end recessportion 40 of the slot engages the projection 24, thus, locking theplunger in extended position and against rotation until again depressedagainst compression of the spring 16.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that when the recessedanchor structure of the invention is installed in decking around aswimming pool or other areas where water and silt may collect, thateventually a collection of such materials and chemicals in the casing orhousing 10, around the plunger 20, may cause sticking or corrosion ofthe parts and that galvanic action may take place. Accordingly, it isdesirable at times to remove the plunger 20 and to clean out the casing10, as well as the slotted portions of the plunger and to clean itsperiphery, so that it will operate smoothly and reliably at all times.

In the event one of the springs 16 is broken, the respective plunger 20may be moved out of the housing 10 for replacement of the spring.

The upper end 34 of each plunger 20 is provided with a slot 50 which maybe engaged by a screw driver or a coin for the purpose of rotating theplunger during its axial and rotational movements, hereinbeforedescribed.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications of the present invention may be resorted to in a mannerlimited only by a just interpretation of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a recessed anchor structure the combination of: a hollowcylindrical housing having an upper open end adapted to be disposed inflush relation with the upper surface of concrete decking, or the like;a plunger vertically reciprocally mounted in said housing and rotatabletherein about a vertical axis; means projecting into the interior ofsaid housing; the periphery of said plunger having slotted portionsengagable by said projection; said slotted portions having horizontallyand vertically disposed recess portions in the periphery of saidplunger; said slotted portions comprising a first slotted portionhorizontally directed in the periphery of said plunger engageable withsaid projection so as to hold a normally upper end of said plunger inflush relationship with a normally upper open end of said housing; aspring in said housing engaging a lower portion of said plunger andtending to force it upward; a second slotted portion recessed in theside wall of said plunger and disposed vertically and communicating withsaid first mentioned slotted portion; a lower end of said second slottedportion recessed to engage said projection and to prevent rotation ofsaid plunger relative to said housing; a third slotted portion above alowermost end of said second slotted portion and adapted to traverseover said projection, said third slotted portion extending horizontally;a fourth slotted portion at an opposite end of said third slottedportion from said second slotted portion; said fourth slotted portionextending downwardly from said third slotted portion and open at a lowerend of said plunger, whereby said third slotted portion and said fourthslotted portion, when traversed over said projection, permits saidspring to force said plunger upwardly and to relieve said fourth slottedportion vertically around said projection and to permit removal of saidplunger from said housing.

2. The invention, as defined in claim 1, wherein: an upper peripheralportion of said plunger being grooved and adapted to be exposed abovethe upper open end of said housing, when said second slotted portion isengaged over said projection at the lowermost portion of said secondslotted portion.

3. The invention, as defined in claim 2, wherein: a tool engagingslotted portion is provided in the upper end of said plunger above saidperipheral groove portion for use in rotating said plunger, whenrecessed in said housing.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,042,161 7/1962 Meyer 52-166HENRY C. SUTHERLAND, Primary Examiner. P. C. FAW, Assistant Examiner.

